Introduction: Syringe decriminalization is a harm reduction approach to decrease deaths and disease related to drug use. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the impact of syringe decriminalization on the harm reduction community in Pennsylvania.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants identified as harm reduction experts.
Analysis: Narrative content analysis to the point of thematic saturation was used to generate themes around harm reduction and syringe decriminalization in Pennsylvania, specifically the meaning of harm reduction, the importance of harm reduction, and the opinions on syringe decriminalization.
Results: The following themes reflect the meaning of harm reduction: human compassion; meeting people where they are at; minimizing the risk; and shifting power to the person. The themes of being personally impacted, human compassion, innate imperfection, and respecting human autonomy reflect why participants care about harm reduction. All ten participants support syringe decriminalization in Pennsylvania citing the following rationales: improved health outcomes; decreased costs to society; less involvement of the criminal justice system; and increased engagement into treatment.
Conclusions: Harm reduction is a pioneering approach to drug use that empowers individuals to make positive impacts in their lives. Harm reduction experts in Pennsylvania support syringe decriminalization as a cost-effective way to increase the engagement and improve health outcomes of people who use drugs.
Keywords: Harm reduction; Opioid epidemic; Pennsylvania; Policy; Substance use; Syringe decriminalization; Syringe service programs.
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